Vol. 405 No. 5
12 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the proposals he intends to make to the EC Commission in fulfilment of the commitments given in section VI (13) of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress to the effect that the Government is committed to examine with the EC Commission the need to extend the disadvantaged areas benefit to disadvantaged farms outside the designated areas particularly in the context of the outcome of the GATT talks.
27 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the proposals he intends to make to the EC Commission in fulfilment of the commitments given in section VI (13) of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress to the effect that the Government are committed to examine with the EC Commission the need to extend the disadvantaged areas benefit to disadvantaged farms outside the designated areas particularly in the context of the outcome of the GATT talks.
32 Mr. Belton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the proposals he intends to make to the EC Commission in fulfilment of the commitments given in section VI (13) of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress to the effect that the Government are committed to examine with the EC Commission the need to extend the disadvantaged areas benefit to disadvantaged farms outside the designated areas particularly in the context of the outcome of the GATT talks.
48 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the proposals he intends to make to the EC Commission in fulfilment of the commitments given in section VI (13) of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress to the effect that the Government are committed to examine with the EC Commission the need to extend the disadvantaged areas benefit to disadvantaged farms outside the designated areas particularly in the context of the outcome of the GATT talks.
61 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the proposals he intends to make to the EC Commission in fulfilment of the commitments given in section VI (13) of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress to the effect that the Government are committed to examine with the EC Commission the need to extend the disadvantaged areas benefit to disadvantaged farms outside the designated areas particularly in the context of the outcome of the GATT talks.
68 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the proposals he intends to make to the EC Commission in fulfilment of the commitments given in section VI (13) of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress to the effect that the Government are committed to examine with the EC Commission the need to extend the disadvantaged areas benefit to disadvantaged farms outside the designated areas particularly in the context of the outcome of the GATT talks.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 27, 32, 48, 61 and 68 together.
It would be premature to take this matter up with the Commission in advance of a decision on our request for an extension and reclassification of the disadvantaged areas. The initial discussions with the Commission can, of course, be only of an exploratory nature particularly since a clear picture of the likely outcome of the GATT talks has not yet emerged. The question of making specific proposals does not, therefore, arise at this stage.
May I ask the Minister if under the appeals procedure, to which he previously referred, he would consider requesting the Commission to increase the percentage of 1.5, which I understand is in the regulation at present, of the total land mass of the country to 2.5 or 3.5 per cent?
The figure of 1.5 per cent is the equivalent of the biggest previous extension undertaken in the middle seventies in toto. As the Deputy said, this figure is in the regulation and an increase would require a change in the regulation. I will consider making a request to the Commission in regard to the 1.5 per cent but as the Deputy will appreciate it is a matter for the Council to make the final decision.
Will the Minister make that request?
I will certainly consider it.
Deputy Louis Belton has a question tabled on the subject, Question No. 32, if he wishes to intervene.
In view of the proposal in the Programme for Economic and Social Progress and the solemn commitment given by the Taoiseach that farmers in disadvantaged areas would be cushioned against a drop in their incomes, will the Minister give a similar commitment in this House today in this regard?
I do not think there is any need for me to repeat a commitment which has been formally given in the Programme for Economic and Social Progress. As I indicated earlier, we will be pursuing a policy for European Community support funding for low income farmers outside the disadvantaged areas.
The Minister's statement that it would depend on what he gets from Europe is entirely different to the commitment given by the Taoiseach. Does the Minister not agree with that point? The Minister seems to be kicking for touch already.
Clichés, whether they are rugby, football, or hurling clichés, will not make the matter any clearer.
That was not a cliché.
What we said in the programme is that we will undertake to ensure that there is a scheme of adequate support for low income farm families. We have made it very clear to the farm organisations, as I have done in the House again today, that what we are talking about is Community funding. If we were to go back to the early seventies before we joined the European Community and took upon ourselves and the back of the Irish taxpayers the obligation to support low income farm families it would be bad both from the point of view of the taxpayers and the low income farm families. We are not about to denationalise the Common Agricultural Policy. The Deputy should reflect on what he has said.
Question No. 13.
I want to point out to the Minister that low income farm families are already in a bad state.
